Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-01
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE LANGUAGE OF CLOTHES.
a PhilOsophef vshO sees Mncia in the
Posture % Ones LeSs. r.

~
Posture 81 Ones Leg.
A FIELD OF Study At The DOOR OF THE DISTRICT
COMMISSIONERS orFIcE-How GARNESTs BECOME
IMPRESSED WITH ONES cHARAcrER AND HABITS
TIE DIFFICULTY or JUDGING 4 NAN IN NEW SUIT.
From time immemorial mans character, as ex.
pressed by his head face. eyes, nose, mouth, chin,
every feature, has been q subject of study. Pro-
found students Of human nature, as specifically
expressed, as Charles Lamb and Charles Dickens.
have discovered subtle meaning In such poor sub
Jects as a suit OF old clothes hung up In a closet
Q cast-asde bar, or an old glove with frayed finger.
tips and wrinElsd back.
TIE LANGUAGE OF LEGS.
A philosopher at the District building called
STAR reporters attention to an interesting study
In which he was engaged. IL was no less I'M
portant a matter than the study Of the meaning
0. the attitude Of legs. The doors opening into
the Commissioners ofice are but half doors. ex.
tending only to within about feet OF the floor, 50
that one can glance underneath them and get
good view OF persons inside from the knee down.
When man enters he generally STANDS Ior
second or two, sometimes longer II the commits
atoner IL engaged. just inside the door Where his
lower limbs become conspicuous objects TO per-
sons 10 the corridor outside II he Is OF retiring
his nervousness and hesitation viii be displayed
In the uncertain shifting movements OF MS legs
and feet; II he Is approaching the Official with an
easy, staggering familiarity. his legs tell the
story as plainly az II one saw his whole person.
Then the philosopher extracts volumes OF mean
ng nom sne way mans Sa nag AT I h,s
heels are worn down at the side. The ph1loSo-
phsr was led from his observations on these
keenest student Of character, as written in gar
ments, 10 bafled. This occurs when man has
NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES.
The outline from coat collar to heel is perfectly
regular For the first few weeks. after each day
OF wear, said the philosopher, he takes them OF
Col 49,,
which the polite tailor said would preserve their
shape, and lays them across his trunk or table.
He pats down every crease or wrinkle, and feels
pang at his heart IL 1t reSiStS his efforts. In the
daytime he sits bolt upright In the chair at his
desk, puts paper under the sleeves to keep them
from solling. gives the knees OF the trousers lit
the coat In at the waist In order that it may re-
tain its roundness OF outline.
Going by store window he will crane his neck
TO its uttermost to see his figure in the glass; he
VIII evenstop In front OF 1t and pretend to be
looking az the articles exhibited: SO, ne goe1
and the folding, patting, rubbing process Is re-
peated.
TIE Oh ANGIE CONES
But, ike all good things, these days do not last
long. In two or three weeks the clothes have lost
their newness they begin to feel more like the old
clothes end, In fact, to look like them The knees
bag little wrinkles form around them On the
coat, wrinkles and ridges appear on the shoulders
and sleeves. No longer does he gaze In the street
windows as he passes He meets his friends in
the usual way greeting them with the old careless
bow. In one word he is himself again. He has
resumed his usual habits, methods and manners
and after such a careful preparation his clothes
In admirable condition to receive an 1ndeiible
impress OF each.
WHAT THE WRINKLES SAY.
They have been nodded TO 1T him, and every lit
tie indsntation, ridge, wrinkle, is reflection Of
some phase of his character. These bags ut the
knees perhaps indicate that he is q clerk and does
much sitting down, or that he has the habit OF
hugging his knees, or very possibly they have
which TO build the fire every morning. They may
be due to his having had to nurse the baby on his
knees through many long and weary nights.
The elbows, too, look like the knees; perhaps il Is
because the market basket rested heavily on that
arm. He may have had to carry the baby on walk
on some pleasant Sunday afternoon. Who knows?
Hts coat pockets are stretched all out OF shape.
This may have been caused by his carrying home
boxes OF caramels, candies, or maybe apples,
pears or peaches for the little one. The same
cause may have made those long wrinkles that
extend from the collar down to the front of the
coat on both sides Perhaps that Old habit OF TAX
ing wife and children In his arms every morning
and evening when going TO and coming from the
ONCE may have much TO do with It.